Firsts 33 – Old Wesley 33

Match Result

Match Report

Galwegians lost a game that appeared to have in the bag with 20 minutes to go when they conceded a last minute try to lose by a point to Old Wesley in Donnybrook on Sat.

Wegians started well in what turned out to be a highly entertaining in excellent playing conditions. An early penalty from outhalf Tadgh Leader gave them a deserved lead. 5 mins Old Wesley 0 Galwegians 3

The home side hit straight back with a penalty of their own 2 minutes later. 7 mins 3 – 3.

Disaster struck for Wegians 5 minutes later. They had worked an excellent overlap opportunity but the final pass was intercepted and Old Wesley got the first of their 5 tries. 12 mins 10 – 3.

Wegians didn’t panic and used the power in their pack to force penalty 4 minutes later. 16 mins 10 – 6.

From the kickoff Wegians tried to play out of defense rather than clearing their lines. They turned the ball over and Wesley worked an excellent score to stretch their lead. 17 mins 17 – 6.

Wegians refused to panic and immediately narrowed the gap with another penalty after more good pressure. 19 mins 17 – 9.

Wegians pack were now dominating their opponents and kept the game in the Wesley half. A shot at goal was spurned in favour of a kick to the corner. From the ensuing lineout the forwards expertly rumbled over the line with No. 8 Eoin Rooney claiming the touchdown. 29 mins 17 – 16.

Old Wesley were the next to score in this absolute ding-dong battle of a match with a try in the corner. 33 mins 22 – 16.

The final score of this high scoring match went to the visitors. Directly from the kickoff Wegians recovered the ball, the backs made some excellent line breaks and manged to get Leader over in the corner. The younger Leader, fullback Darragh, converted from the touchline. 34 mins 22 – 23

The half-time whistle went without further scoring and gave everyone a chance to catch their breath after a craicing half of rugby. Halftime Old Wesley 22 Galwegians 23.

Wegians got off to an excellent start in the second half as the continued to play with good momentum as Tadgh Leader took back the kicking duties to slot a straight-forward penalty. 44 mins 22 – 26.

The sky blues were in complete control at this point as Wesley were down to 14 men. Wegians dominance led to their 3rd try when wing Barry Lee gathered a clever chip through from Tadgh Leader to score in the corner. An excellent conversion stretched the lead to 11 points. 55 mins 22 – 33

The game then turned when experienced second row Brian McClearn was sin binned for pulling down a maul on 58 minutes.

Wegians initially coped well with the pressure from the Dublin side but eventually the incessant pressure told and Wesley narrowed the gap to 6 points with a try in the left hand corner. 65 mins 27 – 33.

The visitors struggled to contain the home side whose confidence was now flowing. Wegians piled further pressure on themselves when centre Brian Murphy was sin binned for not rolling away in the tackle in midfield.

Wesley had made good use of the bench all day and their final substitution brought the third Leader brother onto the field as the eldest of them, Greg, plays with Old Wesley. It is the first time that the 3 brothers have been on the same field in a rugby match.

Wesley ran everything in the last few minutes and their persistence eventually got them the reward they were looking for with a converted try in the last minute. 79 mins 34 – 33.

Wegians still had a chance to win the match as they forced Wesley to concede a penalty on their own 10 metre line near the touchline. Tadgh Leaders attempt of the difficult kick was wide to the right and the chacne for victory went with it. Full time Old Wesley 34 Galwegians 33.

Wesley had made good use of the bench all day and their final substitution brought the third Leader brother onto the field as the eldest of them, Greg, plays with Old Wesley. It is the first time that the 3 brothers have been on the same field in a rugby match.